Striping dispenser



p 1959 L. L. MARRAFFINO STRIPING'DISPENSER' Filed March 12, 1957 BN INVENTOR.

LEONA PO A. MA RRAFF/NO STRIPING DISPENSER Leonard L. Marraflino, Mount Vernon, N .Y., assignor of one-half to John J. Spero Application March 12, 1951, Serial No. 645,523

4 Claims. (01. 222-94 The present invention, generally, relates to devices for dispensing fluent materials and, more particularly, to devices for dispensing two or more fluent materials of different character.

One of the forms of the device of the invention provides two spaced apart'partitions to extend from the discharge port of a container designed for dispensing fluent or paste-like materials. These partitions are of sfufiicient length to. extendfrom the discharge port back into the container for a relatively short distance. On one side of each partition adjacent the discharge port is at least one and preferably a plurality of striping passages communicating between'the discharge port and the contain'er.

' In-another form of the invention, three partitions are usedto provide three separate zones for containing the striping paste. These partitions, also, are of sufficient length to extend from the discharge port back into the container for a relatively short distance. A plurality of striping passages formed adjacent one side of each partition communicate between the discharge port and the container.

The dispensing container is-filled with the materials to be dispensed in the form of a striped stream by first jcharging into thedispensing container the material which is to form the stripes. This material is chargedinto the head end of the dispensing container to one side of each partition in a quantity such that it does not fill the dispensing container beyond the point to which the inner end of the partition extends into the container.

.The base material whichis to form the body of the striped stream and to carry the stripes is then charged into the dispensing container to fill the balance of the containerspace.

hen the device islused, the pressure applied to the dis- .pen'sing container to dispense a stream of material forces the base material which forms the body of the dispensed stream out throughthe main, or outlet, discharge passageway leading to ,the discharge port. The pressure applied to the container and thereby to the base material is transmitted by the base material longitudinally in a forward direction to the striping material which is packed in thehead end of the dispensing-container adjacent the discharge port; As aconsequence of this pressure, the striping material is forced through .the striping ports into the stream-of'base material passing through the maindischarge passageway. In this manner, the striping ,materialis madepart ofasolid stream, and both materials emerge from the discharge passage of the dispensing container in the form of a striped stream.

[In the application of the present device to two or more materials difieringin color, the striped stream which is producedpreserits the dispensed materials to the consumer is .a very" appealing .form. This is particularly true when the" device is used to dispense a consumer product such as toothpaste. 'Toothpaste'dispensed in a striped stream, for example, a white base material with red striping, is a particularly appealing form for children. Of course, the invention is in no way limited to any particular color or to any other characteristics of the dispensing pastes.

The striping material for tooth paste may be simply base material to which coloring dye has been added, or it may be an active ingredient in the resulting striped stream. For example, the present device may be used to dispense a stream of white tooth paste carrying green stripes of chlorophyll. Of course, the device may also be used in cake decorating, and the like, where the striping adds substantial decorative value.

In all applications of the invention, it functions as a metering device to dispense the materials in the proportions dictated by the relative sizes of the main discharge passageway and the striping passages as well as by the number of striping passages. The inside cross sectional area of the main discharge passageway, the diameter of the striping passages, and thesize of the striping ports may be varied and the striping passages may be varied in number for use of the device with different combination of materials. to give the desired proportions of the materials in the dispensed stream.

In order to produce a colored stripe of a particular width, obviously the width of the striping port must be no wider than the stripe produced. Slight spreading of this stripe may occur as the paste stream leaves the tube port, the extent depending on such factors as, for example, paste viscosity and extrusion pressure. However, for good reproductibility and sharpness of stripe, only slight spreading is permissible. Therefore, the width of the striping port must be the same as or slightly less then the width of the stripe to be produced.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing device for dispensing a striped, paste-like material.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing device capable of producing a stream of fluent material with multi-colored stripes.

A representative embodiment of the invention from which the above and other features and objects thereof will be readily understood from the description following having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section of one form of the invention showing the discharge passageway formed between two spaced apart partitions;

Figure 2 is a View taken along the line 2-- 2 in Figure l; v

Figure 3 is a view partly in section showing three partitions forming a triangular discharge passageway and three striping zones adjacent the discharge port of the container; and

Figure 4 a view taken along the line 4--4 in Figure 3.

For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the dispensing device is to be used to dispense tooth paste in a striped form, it being understood that the invention is not limited to tooth paste or to the characteristics of the paste material described.

Referring now to the invention as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings, a conventional disposable aluminum tube dispensing container 10 is provided with a threaded head end 11 having a plurality of threads 12 for securing a cap (not shown) to the head end of the tube 10. Positioned within the sloping forward end 13 of the tube 10 are two spaced apart partitions 14 and 15 which extend from the threaded head end 11 back into the tube 10 for a predetermined distance. The two partitions 14 3 and 15 may be integrally or they may be secured thereto by any suitable means, it only being essential that they be spaced apart a predetermined distance to provide a central discharge passageway therebetween communicating with a discharge port 17. The discharge port 17 may be rectangular in cross section as shown in the drawings, or it may be circular, triangular, or any desired shape, it not Being critical to the provision of two zones for containing striping material.

The sloping forward end 13 of the tube 3.0 encloses a zone adjacent each partition into each of which is placed the striping paste. The balance of the tube is filled with the white tooth paste or any other color selected for the body of the striped tooth paste to be produced. Since the two zones are separately formed, thestn'ping material contained in each may bedifierent in character as, for example, different colors. The resulting product, such a case, would be a multi-colored striped stream of tooth paste which would add substantial commercial value to the product. i

In order for the striping paste contained within the zones defined by the sloping portion 13 and the partitions 14 and 15 to be placed in stripes on the body of the tooth paste, at least one and preferably a plurality of striping passages 18 are formed within the head end 11. Thus, by the application of pressure to the tube 10 in the customary manner, the white tooth paste is pressed forward and is extruded through the discharge passageway 16. At the same time, the white tooth paste transmits pressure longitudinally in a forward direction to the striping pastes in the spaces 19 and 20 at each side of the partitions 14 and 15, respectively, thereby causing the striping pastes to be extruded uniformly through the passages 18 to apply a series of stripes to the main body of the tooth paste.

When the same colored striping paste is used in the space 19 as is also used in the space 20, when these two spaces may be said to define a single zone and the second zone is defined by the balance of the tube 10. On the other hand, if the space 19 is used to contain a striping paste of a color different from that contained in the space 20 such that two dilferent colored stripes may be applied to a dispensed stream of tooth paste, then it may be said that three zones are provided. within the single container 10. p H

The invention as illustrated in Figure 3 of the draw- .ings provides three partitions 31, 32 and 33 formed together to provide any essentially triangular discharge passageway 34. These partitions are positioned within the forward sloping end 35 of a conventional disposable aluminum tube dispensing container 30. The forward sloping end 35 terminates in a head end 36 with a plurality of threads 37 to secure a conventional cap (not shown). The discharge passageway 34 extends from the inner. ends of the partitions 31, 32 and 33 to the discharge port 42 communicating externally of the tube 30. At least one and preferably aplurality of striping passages 38 are formed within the head end 36in order .to communicatethe spaces to one side of the respective other, hand, if the. same color stripingpaste. iscontained in-each of, the spaces 39, 40 and 41, it may, be said that a single zone. is defined thereby, and the second zone would be'thebalance of the tube As shown in the drawing, the discharge port 37 is triangular in cross-section to. provide a smooth transition between the main discharge passageway 34 'andthe port formed with the head end 11 37. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this shape, it being also feasible to form the discharge port 37 in any other configuration desired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects merely illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

I claim: i

l. A device for dispensing fluent materials which comprises a container having a discharge port opening exten nally of said container, two partitions extending from said discharge port back into saidcontainer a. predetermined distance and being spaced apart to form a discharge passageway communicating said container with said discharge port, said container having a first zone including that portion of said container disposed adjacent one side of said passageway and a second zone including that portion of said container disposed adjacent the opposite side of said passageway from said first zone and a third zone in which said partitions terminate at the opposite ends thereof from said discharge port, and a striping passage communicating between said discharge port and each of said first and second zones;

2. A device for dispensing fluent materials which cent prises a container having a discharge poi-f o ening eitternally of said container, three partitions extending from said discharge port back into said container at predetermined distance and being arranged to forth a discharge passageway of triangular cross section communicating said container with said discharge p'o'r't, said container having a zone adjacent each of said three partitions including that portion of said container disposed adjacent each side of said discharge passageway and another zone in which said partitions terminate at the opposite ends thereof from said discharge port, and a snipin assage communicating between said discharge port and eacnnf said zones adjacent each of said three partitions.

3. A device for dispensing fluent materials which cornprises a container having a discharge sport of recftang'nlar cross section opening externally" of said container, two partitions extending from said discharge port back into said container at predetermined distance 'ahd'lieing spaced apart a distance approximately e ual to the sli'oftest dimension across said rectangular discharge port to "form a discharge passageway"communicating said 661itain'er with said discharge port, said c ntainer Having a first zone including that portion of said container dis": posed adjacent one side of saidflpns'sageway' and a second zone including that portion of said container disposed adjacent the opposite side of saiii'passa' 'ewayfr dm said first zone and a third zone in which saidpa'rtitions terminate at the -opjsio'siteeinlsthereof from said discharge port, and 'a striping passage communicating Between said discharge port and each n'fsaid first and second zones.

-4. A- device fnrdispensingflnenrmaterials" which coinprise's 'a container having" a discharge po'rt oftiia'ng'ular cross section opening externanyidf said container, three partitions eXt'endingfi-o'nr said discharge .pnrrj liaek' into said container at predetermined distance and"beiiig' ar-r ranged to form a discharge passa ewaymr"trian ular cross section communicating'said Container with said discharge po'rtfwhi'ch cross section of said passa ewa adjacent said discharge port being appro'riiately 'tlie' same-in area as 'sa'iddisciiargeport and pnsitinnedftnpre vide a' substantially'sm'ooth' transition from s'a'id passagewayto said discharge'port and the'cr cis's s'e'c'tiondfsaid passageway filithermo'st'from saiddischarg'e portbein'g substantially the maximum in area that'will fit within the container at the position at" which said partitions terminate, said container having" a zone adjacent each of said threepartitions including'tliat portio'n of said container disposed-adjacent each sideof 'saiddischargelpas- 6 sageway and another zone in which said partitions ter- References Cited in the file of this patent minate at the opposite ends thereof from said discharge port, and a striping passage communicating between said UNITE]? STATES PATENTS discharge port and each of said zones adjacent each of 35,529 Hopklns Apr. 28, 1925 said three partitions. 5 2,789,731 Marrafiino Apr. 23, 1957 

